Vitesse Arnhem have had their professional licence revoked by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), effectively barring the club from competing in the 2024-25 season.
The decision comes after Vitesse failed to meet critical financial and regulatory requirements, including providing a balanced budget, maintaining a bank account, and securing an auditing accountant. Vitesse say they will appeal.
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The KNVB’s independent licensing committee communicated this decision to Vitesse on Monday, citing the club’s inability to comply despite several extensions.
Vitesse — who had until Monday to submit the necessary documentation but fell short. The KNVB emphasised that allowing Vitesse to participate under their current conditions would jeopardise its continuity, adding that “a longer postponement is impossible due to the approaching start of the new football season”.
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In recent months, the licensing committee had repeatedly extended deadlines for Vitesse, initially warning on April 30 that the club’s license would be at risk if its financial situation did not improve.
On May 17, recognising some positive developments regarding the transfer of shares to an independent foundation, the committee granted Vitesse additional time, setting a final deadline of June 24.
There have been numerous media reports about potential new shareholders for Vitesse. However, the limited documentation provided by the club was insufficient to meet the licensing requirements. This failure led to the revocation of their license, effective July 9.
According to the professional football license regulations, Vitesse’s appeal must be submitted in writing to the licensing appeals committee within five working days of the decision. The appeal process includes a written response from the licensing committee and a subsequent hearing where both parties will be represented. This could take several weeks.
The club’s financial struggles trace back to ownership issues, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Vitesse had been owned by Russian oligarch Valeriy Oyf since 2018. Amid EU sanctions on Russia, Oyf announced his intention to sell the club in March 2022, and Vitesse has since been embroiled in a complex transfer of ownership involving multiple potential buyers and regulatory hurdles.
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In February, the KNVB rejected a takeover bid by the Common Group, a New York-based investment firm, due to insufficient evidence of their financial stability. Although there was an appeal, this was rejected on May 7 by the licensing committee.
The club also received an 18-point deduction in April and were relegated from the Eredivisie for the first time in 35 years. This was imposed due to persistent breaches of licensing conditions and providing incorrect information to authorities.
Despite efforts to stabilise, including a crowdfunding campaign and the temporary transfer of Oyf’s majority shares to an independent foundation, Vitesse’s financial issues persisted.
If Vitesse’s appeal is rejected, the club will not be able to compete in the Eerste Divisie — Dutch second tier — next season. Vitesse could also take the decision to court.
(Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images)